valedictorian

noun

val·​e·​dic·​to·​ri·​an ˌva-lə-ˌdik-ˈtȯr-ē-ən 

: the student usually having the highest rank in a graduating class who delivers the valedictory address at the commencement exercises

Examples of valedictorian in a Sentence

She was the valedictorian of her class in 1985.

Recent Examples on the Web

The second girl grew up in that same community, yet was the school valedictorian, went to Stanford and now has a lengthy resume in higher education administration. —Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 9 Aug. 2025

High school students will not receive a class rank based on their grade point average, and there will be neither a valedictorian nor a salutatorian as there were in past years. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025

Here are the Class of 2025 valedictorians and salutatorians at Williamson County's public schools and private Battle Ground Academy, Brentwood Academy, Franklin Christian Academy and Grace Christian Academy. —Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

The days of trying to be captain, president, volunteer, and valedictorian are over. —Gerald Bradshaw, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

valedictor(y) + -ian

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for valedictorian

• chorion
• corean
• dorian
• mauryan
• saurian
• gregorian
• historian
• nestorian
• praetorian
• stentorian
• pythagorean

Kids Definition

valedictorian

noun

vale·​dic·​to·​ri·​an

ˌval-ə-ˌdik-ˈtōr-ē-ən,

-ˈtȯr-

: the student usually of the highest rank in a graduating class who gives the farewell speech at graduation ceremonies